Earlier this year, I published a blog post on the sensation of having a lump in the throat when you feel anxious. It’s called globus pharyngeus which is defined as “the painless sensation of a lump in the throat and may be described as a foreign body sensation, a tightening or choking feeling.”
Globus means globe/sphere and it can actually feel like you have a golf-ball sized object in your throat. It’s very uncomfortable and quite terrifying outside of the anxiety that is often the trigger. I share my lump-in-the-throat story and my success with GABA in this blog: Anxiety and globus pharyngeus (lump in the throat): GABA to the rescue?
Pam recently shared her wonderful success with GABA on the above blog, after having dealt with what she calls “her throat thing” for 40 years!
I have dealt with this throat thing since I was a teenager. I’m now 57. It was only when I saw what you wrote about how yours came back after a scary airplane incident that I made the connection that GABA could help me. I saw that in the summer of 2019, so I spent about 40 years dealing with this until I found the GABA answer!
Mine comes up when speaking in front of others, such as work meetings, or even just one-on-one work discussions, and it was getting consistently worse. I would be swallowing constantly and trying to talk. Absolutely awful. Of course everyone could see it happening.
GABA solved this for me, and I can’t even describe how grateful I am!
How wonderful are these results! I am so happy for her and thanked her for coming back and sharing in the comments. I also asked some follow-up questions so I can continue to learn and so I can share so you get to learn too:
- How much GABA helps and how do you take it (when you know you’ll be in this situation or a few times a day to get your levels up)?
- Did you ever use a prescribed medication or were recommended something?
- Have you seen any other benefits from using GABA – improved sleep, reduced anxiety in other situations, reduced cravings?
- Have you made other changes too – like dietary changes such as gluten/sugar/caffeine/alcohol removal?
She shared this about timing and how GABA helps with anxiety-related physical/muscle tension and nervousness:
I take GABA Calm … one upon waking, 1 mid-morning, and 1 mid- afternoon. I take an extra one right at the time of a meeting.
That is the only change I made. I’ve never been on any prescription medication.
Other than the specific throat issue, I notice I’m generally less physically tense, with muscles not getting so knotted up in my face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back, which is wonderful.
I work at a computer job, which causes lots of muscle tension, but I feel that anxiety-related muscle tension has reduced.
I notice that my muscles have less of that “immediate tightness” upon seeing someone whom I’m nervous to interact with.
This timing and dosage of GABA Calm is typically what I use with clients and what works so it was great to hear that it’s working for her. I was also so pleased to hear the anxiety-related muscle tension and nervousness has reduced too. This is also to be expected.
I did remind her to keep in mind that the amino acids are intended for short-term use. This could be a few weeks up to 6-12 months depending on each person. While using the GABA, I have my clients start to address all the dietary changes, gut health, nutritional deficiencies (zinc and B6 are needed to make neurotransmitters and key with pyroluria), toxin exposure (like BPA, phthalates, pesticides, fluoride etc), infections (like Lyme and co-infections, parasites, PANDAS/PANS) etc. and everything else that may be causing low GABA levels (as we covered in The Anxiety Summit 6).
Vagus nerve support is also key. I cover what I did for my vagus nerve in this blog that Pam referred to: Vagus nerve rehab with GABA, breathing, humming, gargling and key nutrients
Globus pharyngeus or this sensation of the-lump-in-the throat is way more common than most people realize and mainstream medicine seldom has a solution. Medications that are commonly prescribed for globus pharyngeus are benzodiazepines, antidepressants/SSRIs and sometimes PPIs/proton pump inhibitors. Cognitive behavior therapy has some success in some instances but it’s always best to get to the root cause of low GABA and address that with the amino acid GABA. And then figure out why GABA is low and address that too.
If you’re new to the amino acids here is a quick summary about GABA: low levels of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter can lead to anxiety, fears and panic attacks. With low GABA, the anxiety is a physical kind of anxiety with muscle tension or muscle spasms. I propose that low GABA may be one possible root cause of globus pharyngeus.
I appreciate Pam for sharing her story and I’m sharing it here in order to give you practical solutions and hope. If she can find a solution to her 40-year the-lump-in-the throat and physical tension issues then anything is possible.
Please also share your lump-in-the-throat story and what has helped you. Or if you’re a practitioner, do share how you have helped your clients/patients who experienced this sensation.
Feel free to post your questions here too.
I have been taking Gaba calm 125 mg twice a day for a few years.
It immediately lessons the stress and anxiety without taking any
other medications. I am a teacher and the stress level is at an all
time high with COVID-19. Are there long term side effects? Is there
anything else you recommend?
Fina
Thanks for sharing and so glad to hear it helps. I’m sorry to hear about this stress you’re experiencing!
I am not aware of any issues with long term use of GABA but ideally we want to figure out what it’s low and address this – stress (clearly challenging for you right now), low zinc, low B6, poor gut health, parasites, low intake of animal protein and/or low stomach acid, poor adrenal function, sex hormone imbalances etc. For stress during COVID and other types of disasters, a good B complex is invaluable https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/b-complex-gaba-zinc-tryptophan-vitamin-b6-powerful-nutrients-disaster-recovery/
My 30 year old son is tapering off antidepressants. He tried tryptophan and it made him hyper and not able to sleep. Have you ever heard of this?
Susan
Too much tryptophan can do this but it’s more typical to see this with 5-HTP. When using tryptophan or 5-HTP during tapering be sure to have the prescribing doctor monitoring for serotonin syndrome. Best is to read this blog and work with and discuss with your prescribing doctor https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/taper-from-antidepressant-tryptophan-amino-acids/
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Trudy
Thank you so such for this information. I have had the sensation you describe for at least 20 years so I am very keen to try GABA. I have heard that supplements in this country are synthetic and are manufactured in China. Can you shed some light on this. I would like to select a good supplement to use. I live in South Africa so I am not sure which one to purchase locally. Thank you
Theresa
Best would be to check with supplement companies there
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Interesting!! I notice that I have a crying response that’s different, but I wonder if it’s a similar origin. I just kind of choke up and feel like I’m going to cry from any little thing that pulls at my emotions, whether it’s heart-warming or sad. I am convinced that this is a physiological response, because it did not happen for most of my life, but for the last few years, it happens at the drop of a hat, even if I don’t feel like I’m sad. Also, I can tell that when I’m physically feeling better it doesn’t happen the same way. I’ve had pretty severe chronic illness for 30+ years and I know that my neurotransmitters, hormones, vagus nerve and mitochondria are completely shot. I’ve done a lot of work in the functional med realm for the last several years and am building back up, and I have taken GABA for periods of time, usually in powder form at bedtime. I’m really curious, though, if this is a vagus nerve or GABA deficiency kind of issues. Have you ever seen this as a symptom of vagus nerve dysfunction or neurotransmitter deficiency? Thanks so much for your work and sharing your information!!!
Ava
The best way to know is to do trial of respective amino acids. Based on your description I’d explore low endorphins and DPA, in addition to vagus nerve support. More on that here – DPA to end comfort-eating, end weepiness and boost endorphins https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/dpa-comfort-eatin-weepiness-endorphins/ Feel free to search for blog for more info on this topic.
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/store/aafsbook.html
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi, I have this throat issue but I didn’t know there was a name for it, and didn’t know it was related to anxiety even though I suspect it might be. I just bought GABA calm, and I’m always cautious when I start a new supplement. Is there a way to start out slowly with it?
Christine
I have sensitive folks always start low. Starting dose of GABA is 125mg and some folks start with 1/4 and go up from there. Keep us posted how it goes.
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/store/aafsbook.html
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hmm – get that too – I will try some GABA
Brett
A reminder to do a trial to find out your unique needs – and to start low. I typically have clients do a trial with 125mg GABA Calm or open a GABA-only product (sublingual is always best).
Can a person stay on GABA long term?
I read something about it blocking dopamine receptors.
In mouse research, upon activation of GABA neurons in the VTA, a strong inhibitory effect was reported on the rate of firing in DA neurons. In contrast, following GABA neuron inhibition, a disinhibition or increase of dopamine was witnessed. These findings indicate that firstly, GABA activation could be associated with dopamine suppression, and secondly, that GABA neurons in the VTA may have a direct connection with the synapses of local DA neurons.
Susan
I have not seen issues with long term use but ideally root causes are addressed so long-term use is not needed. I cover all this in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution.” More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/store/aafsbook.html
Interesting article (https://www.news-medical.net/health/GABA-Activation-and-Dopamine-Suppression.aspx) which I take to mean GABA has a positive impact on the dopamine reward pathway helping with addiction. I’d have to dig deeper to be able to comment further so I’ve added it to my long list.
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi,
I have suffered with Globus pharyngeus since 2006. After seeing many doctors, I found a otolaryngologist in NYC where I was diagnosed with vagus nerve damage (not sure of the medical name). I was initially given PPIs, diet change, and then gabapentin. That was in 2014. At this point, I am just taking 200 mg of gabapentin along with CBD (prescribed medical marijuana – high CBD/almost negligible THC). It seems to be doing the trick unless I talk for a long time or sing! My question is this – I’d like to get off gabapentin and try Gaba Calm (which I have already bought but I’m not sure if I can take both Gaba Calm and gabapentin together until I wean off the gabapentin. Suggestions? Thank you
Laura
It’s best to work with the prescribing doctor on gabapentin withdrawal. Be aware of discontinuation syndrome during withdrawal.
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Trudy,
Been dealing with Globus for a few months (never before) during a very stressful time of my life. Anxiety and stress very high (caused severe acid reflux) as I experienced some health issues. I’m going to try this but I do take BP medication and a PPI at this time. Any conflict there? I’m sure the GI issues are tied to the stress and anxiety. 54 year old male, do I start with 125 mg a day and for how long? So excited I may have a solution other than antidepressant medication (which may or may not help).
Thank you,
-Tom
Tom
I always start low with 125mg and go up from there over the course of a few weeks. With globus it’s also important to address other underlying root causes and the severe acid reflux is a big one. I’d start with looking at food sensitivities especially gluten.